CAB80-8 — Page 210

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T.R. (40)11.7

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ANNEX.

ALLIED MILITARY COMMITTEE.

ARMAMENTS SUPPLIES TO BALKAN COUNTRIES.

Memorandum by the British Representatives.

182

The French High Command, through the medium of the French Representatives on the Allied Military Committee, has stated that it is essential that the French and British Governments should pursue the same policy as regards the future provision and maintenance of the equipment of Balkan Powers. To this end the French have proposed that the Allied Military Committee should undertake the study of such a policy in order, in the near future, to lay concrete proposals before the two Governments, and they have suggested a very far-reaching and comprehensive programme to achieve this. The steps which they suggest should be taken by the Committee are detailed in the copy of a note prepared by them, which is attached hereto as an enclosure.

2.

The British Representatives concur in the French view that it is desirable to reach an agreed policy as regards the equipment of the Balkan Powers, with the immediate aim of avoiding overlapping or duplication of French and British supplies, and of ensuring that the limited supplies available should be sent to those countries which, from an Allied point of view, should receive prior consideration.

3. The full French proposals, as they stand, present an immense task, and we feel that it is by no means certain, at this stage, that the results which would be achieved from such a widespread and detailed investigation would justify the effort involved and the heavy work which would be thrown on the intelligence services. Indeed, it seems doubtful whether any results of real value at all would emerge, since so many of the factors which must be taken into account are imponderable.

4. We feel that it might be advisable to adopt a more modest procedure at the outset, and that the procedure which we suggest below would go some way towards the achievement of the French purpose. Moreover, we feel strongly that the Allied Military Committee should not be involved in technicalities or attempt to establish itself as a clearing-house and statistical bureau for supply matters. The Committee as constituted is neither competent to do this nor is it their function.

5.

With the object of making the best use of such supplies as the Allies may have at their disposal for the Balkans, we suggest, firstly, that both the British and French Sections of the Committee should prepare:-

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